Nightrain
"Nightrain" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Guns N' Roses | ||||
from the album Appetite for Destruction | ||||
B-side | "Reckless Life" | |||
Released | July 25, 1989 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:26 | |||
Label | Geffen | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Mike Clink | |||
Guns N' Roses singles chronology | ||||
|
"Nightrain" (pronounced "Night Train") is a song by American
"Nightrain" is the third song on the band's debut
Composition
The first half of the first guitar solo and the lead intro is played by Izzy Stradlin, while all other lead guitar parts are played by Slash.
Reception
"Nightrain" is widely regarded as one of the band's best songs. In 2017, Paste ranked the song number three on their list of the 15 greatest Guns N' Roses songs,[7] and in 2020, Kerrang ranked the song number five on their list of the 20 greatest Guns N' Roses songs.[8]
Live
"Nightrain" is a staple at Guns N' Roses concerts. In earlier shows, it was usually played early in the set. During the
Slash describes in his autobiography how "Nightrain" is his favorite song to perform live: "That song has a rhythm to it in the verses that from the start always made me go crazy. The first time we played it, even, I started jumping up and down - I couldn't help it. When we had our huge stage later on, I'd run the length of it, jump off the amplifiers, and lose it just about every single time we played it. I'm not sure why, but no other song we've ever played live made me move like that."[6]
Track listings
All tracks are written by Guns N' Roses except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Nightrain" (LP version) | ||
2. | "Reckless Life" (LP version) | Guns N' Roses, Chris Weber |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Nightrain" (LP version) | ||
2. | "Knocking on Heaven's Door" (live Bob Dylan cover) | Bob Dylan | |
3. | "Reckless Life" (LP version) | Guns N’ Roses, Weber |
Personnel
- W. Axl Rose– lead vocals
- Slash – lead guitar, rhythm guitar
- Izzy Stradlin – rhythm guitar, lead guitar (first guitar solo only), backing vocals
- Duff "Rose" McKagan– bass, backing vocals
- Steven Adler – drums, cowbell
Charts
Chart (1989) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[9] | 61 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[10] | 39 |
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] | 43 |
Ireland (IRMA)[12] | 2 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] | 21 |
17 | |
US Billboard Hot 100[15] | 93 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[16] | 26 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | July 25, 1989 |
|
Geffen | [citation needed] |
United Kingdom | August 21, 1989 |
|
[17] |
References
- ^ Tucker, Dan (February 28, 2014). "13 Classic Hard Rock Songs That Will Make You Scream "More Cowbell!"". VH1. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ McPadden, Mike (July 23, 2015). "Slash Turns 50: Rock With His 10 Greatest Guitar Moments". VH1. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ "Song Info". gnrsource.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
- ^ "The Top 10 Drinking Songs of All Time". Guitar World. February 24, 2016.
- ^ Bozza, Anthony; Slash (2007). Slash. New York: Harper Entertainment. p. 119.
- ^ a b Bozza, Anthony; Slash (2007). Slash. New York: Harper Entertainment. pp. 118–119.
- ^ Rolli, Bryan (September 27, 2017). "The 15 Best Guns N' Roses Songs". Paste. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ Law, Sam (October 8, 2020). "The 20 greatest Guns N' Roses songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 112.
- ^ "Guns N' Roses – Nightrain" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 37. September 16, 1989. p. IV.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Guns N' Roses". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ "Guns N' Roses – Nightrain". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ "Guns N' Roses: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ "Guns N Roses Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ "Guns N Roses Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ "New Singles". Music Week. August 19, 1989. p. 39.